After the Mission Beach Elementary School site was bid at auction for $18.5 million on May 4, San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) representative Scott Barnett met with Mayor Bob Filner to begin working on a joint option to purchase the property.

“The city would pay $10 million over two years for the property. The district would retain $8.5 million ownership of the property,” said Jennifer Tandy, former Mission Bay School cluster chairwoman. “The city would work with the district to develop the land for the public good, but also have a revenue-generating component, like monthly paid parking for residents and visitor parking incorporated into the design.”

The school district board makes its final decision on the La Jolla-based private developer McKellar-Ashbrook’s bid at its meeting on May 14. Tandy urged concerned parties to email letters to Mayor Filner, members of the school board and District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer to voice their opinion about the proposal. Visit www.sandi.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=3248 by 5 p.m. on May 13 to sign up for public testimony at the May 14 meeting, or submit a request to the board action officer prior to the start of the meeting, located at 4100 Normal St.